Reclaimed Wool Oyster Bonnet, Black with Beads
What sort of cap might an oyster wear? After looking at the original illustrations by John Tenniel that accompanied Lewis Carroll’s poem The Walrus and the Carpenter, we wanted to know. In Tenniel’s hands, the ill-fated oysters resemble Victorian school girls, complete with bonnets tied at the chin.
We asked Stilke if she might create her own interpretation of oyster headwear. She responded with three creations, all woven from reclaimed wool—sweaters she found, unraveled, and treated to create new wool thread. To add a bit of oyster-y flourish, she attached shiny black beads, originally from an old necklace that she had broken apart.
Two reflect the oyster’s textured gray exterior, and one evokes the soft, pearly interior. The exterior-inspired pieces feature straps reminiscent of early-twentieth-century bathing caps or aviator helmets. These straps add protection and transform our imagined oysters from the Victorian era of ribbons and bows into the modern age of speed and sport.
Artist Bio:
Katharina Stilke, Berlin, Germany
Originally from Poland, Katharina trained as a garment maker in Munich, where she honed her expertise in sewing, weaving, and crocheting. Her true love is the art of making “something out of nothing.” To create her unique fashion accessories, she dismantles, unravels, and repurposes old and scavenged garments.
Reclaimed Wool Oyster Bonnet, Black with Beads
What sort of cap might an oyster wear? After looking at the original illustrations by John Tenniel that accompanied Lewis Carroll’s poem The Walrus and the Carpenter, we wanted to know. In Tenniel’s hands, the ill-fated oysters resemble Victorian school girls, complete with bonnets tied at the chin.
We asked Stilke if she might create her own interpretation of oyster headwear. She responded with three creations, all woven from reclaimed wool—sweaters she found, unraveled, and treated to create new wool thread. To add a bit of oyster-y flourish, she attached shiny black beads, originally from an old necklace that she had broken apart.
Two reflect the oyster’s textured gray exterior, and one evokes the soft, pearly interior. The exterior-inspired pieces feature straps reminiscent of early-twentieth-century bathing caps or aviator helmets. These straps add protection and transform our imagined oysters from the Victorian era of ribbons and bows into the modern age of speed and sport.
Artist Bio:
Katharina Stilke, Berlin, Germany
Originally from Poland, Katharina trained as a garment maker in Munich, where she honed her expertise in sewing, weaving, and crocheting. Her true love is the art of making “something out of nothing.” To create her unique fashion accessories, she dismantles, unravels, and repurposes old and scavenged garments.
